Is acute bronchitis asthma?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on March 12, 2025
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Acute bronchitis and bronchial asthma, although both are bronchial disorders, are not the same disease; acute bronchitis is not asthma. Acute bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the bronchial mucosa caused by various pathogenic factors, with common symptoms being fever, cough, and expectoration. Some patients may also experience chest tightness and wheezing. Treatment primarily involves antibiotics and cough suppressants with expectorants. Asthma, on the other hand, is characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways, high reactivity, and widespread variable reversible airflow limitation, with clinical manifestations mainly including recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or coughing. Treatment primarily involves bronchodilators such as theophylline, receptor agonists, and anti-inflammatory medications represented by corticosteroids, thus the treatments also differ.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Is acute bronchitis contagious?

Acute bronchitis is somewhat contagious, mostly caused by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, or staphylococci due to inflammatory irritation. It can spread through respiratory secretions and expelled air containing pathogens. If a healthy person comes into contact with these pathogens, they may get infected. Therefore, acute bronchitis can be contagious. It is advisable to promptly disinfect indoor air, drink plenty of water, rest adequately, select sensitive antimicrobial drugs to kill the pathogens, and treat symptoms accordingly.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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Can acute bronchitis cause a fever?

Acute bronchitis can cause fever. In such cases, there is no need for excessive worry, as fever is a common symptom of acute bronchitis. It is advised to actively manage the fever. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5°C, take antipyretic medication; otherwise, use physical methods to reduce fever, such as wiping the patient's limbs and back with a warm towel to cool down; you can also apply fever cooling patches, or take some antipyretic medication to treat and alleviate symptoms; applying a cold towel to the forehead can also achieve the purpose of cooling. Additionally, let the patient rest more, avoid excessive fatigue, drink more water to enhance excretion, and improve their own resistance. At the same time, follow a doctor’s guidance to actively treat the symptoms. As the onset of acute bronchitis is often sudden, it is advised to address the symptoms appropriately.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Why does acute bronchitis make you feel so tired?

Acute bronchitis is very exhausting, and this condition is mainly caused by two reasons. First, it is due to inflammation. After the infection, it is not necessarily confined to the trachea; it can release cytokines and inflammatory mediators throughout the body. These cytokines and inflammatory mediators can cause inflammatory effects throughout the body, leading many patients to feel sore limbs and fatigue. Second, during acute bronchitis, there can be a manifestation of relative hypoxia in the body. This is due to the disease, because the trachea itself is responsible for breathing. When there is an issue, the respiratory function will definitely be impaired, so the body will also experience fatigue and weakness due to hypoxia. All these symptoms are related to bronchitis. Once the symptoms of bronchitis improve, these symptoms can also improve.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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What to do about vomiting with acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is often seen in patients with weakened immune systems, or who accidentally catch cold. It frequently occurs in infants and young children who generally have lower immune functions. The invasion of pathogens into the respiratory tract can lead to various symptoms including fever, cough, phlegm, and breathing difficulties. During the acute phase of bronchitis, intense coughing due to the vigorous nature of the cough can increase gastric pressure. Therefore, sometimes after eating, patients may experience vomiting in conjunction with severe coughing. At this time, prompt treatment with anti-infection measures, cough suppression, and expectorants can naturally lead to improvement in vomiting.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Can you smoke with acute bronchitis?

It can be definitively said that smoking is prohibited for those suffering from acute bronchitis. Common symptoms of acute bronchitis include coughing and expectoration, and some patients may experience chest tightness and wheezing. Smoking can trigger or exacerbate these symptoms. Firstly, the smoke and heat from smoking can directly damage the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, triggering or worsening symptoms such as coughing and asthma. Additionally, the harmful substances in smoke can also irritate and damage the respiratory tract mucous membranes, exacerbating these symptoms. Therefore, patients with acute bronchitis should quit smoking.